Dyeing apparatus.



W. .l. GOING.

DYEING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man APR. 12. 1911.

Patented Fb. 25,1919.

llllllllllm" mmnnu'ilini a} J G lNl/E/VTUR W? MWATTORNZ/L W. J. G01NG.

DYEING APPARATUS.

APPLICATSON FILED APR. :2. 1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

5 $HEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR MAJTG-viuq BY A @Zall ATTORNEY v W. J. GOING. DYEIN'GAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 12. HI- I 1,295,155. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

5 $HEETS$HEET 3.

a) NYVENTOR I B; ATTORNEY W. L GOING. DYEING APPARATUS.

M APPLICATION FILED APR.12. 1917. 1,295,155.- Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

s SHEETS-SHEEI 4.

I T V 1. Z M flu UH 3 54 l I :1:

2 1 I M A Z INVENTOR I CU. I Gm3 B) WI'WATTORNEY W. J'- GOING.

DYEING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man APR. 12. 1911.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

5 $HEETS-SHEET 5.

: H m G j IN l/E/V TOR an earns WILLIAM J'. GOING, OF AMSTERDAM, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR- TO GENERAL TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF YARDLEY,PENNSYLVANIA.

DYEING APPARATUS.

Specification ,of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 161,400.

tus, scouring apparatus and the like and with regard to its morespecific features, to circulating dyeing machines.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which will satisfactorily perform the necessaryoperations but which will not require such frequent repairs and constantsupervision.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which will facilitate and expedite the handling of thematerial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which will secure a better and more uniform action of theliquor on the material and more specifically a better and more uniformdyeing and which will effect a better circulation of the liquor.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinationsof elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

Many features of the invention are applicable to a wide variety of usesbut inasmuch as certain practical results are attained when they areembodied in a dyeing apparatus, the invention is illustrated as soembodied, and the liquor will be referred to as a dyeing solution,although it will be apparent that when the invention is otherwiseembodied the solution may be of a different character.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification whereinsimilar reference characters refer to' similar parts throughout theseveral views Figure 11s anelevation of an apparatus 1n accordance withthis invention showing four dyeing tubs.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the dyeing tubs, showing the operatingmechanism thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the tub showing the circulatingdevices.

Fig. 4. is a sectional view through the tub at right angles to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the tubs showing the relation ofthe traveling hoisting mechanism thereto.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are a front elevation, a side elevation, and a planview to an enlarged scale of the hoisting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the drive for the hoistin apparatus; and

igs. 10 and 11 are details of the controlling mechanism for thecirculating apparatus.

As illustrated there is provided a plurality of dyeing tubs 1 over whichwill be supported two parallel beams, as 2, which serve as a track: fora traveling hoisting apparatus 3. Each of the dyeing tubs 1 willcomprise a vat 4: adapted to contain the dyeing solution, and a supportor rack 5 for the material to be dyed. Means are preferably provided formaintaining a circulation of the dyeing solution in the vat, illustratedas propellers 6 which will be arranged to main tain a circulation of thedyeing solution through the vat over the material to be dyed. As shownin Fig. 3, the vat may be divided into separate portions, as by apartition 7 to form a dyeing chamber, as 8, and a return flow chamber,as 9, which chambers are connected at both top and bottom. Thepropellers 6 are preferably situated in the chambers 9 and a suitablehousing 10 and deflectors 11 may be provided to assist the propeller inmoving the dyeing solution. By the arrangement described, the rotationof the propeller 6 will cause the circulation of the dyeing solutionunderneath the partition 7 and up through the dyeing chamber and overthe top of the partition 7, back into the chamber 9, or the reverse,dependent upon in which direction the propeller 6 is rotated.

There is preferably provided a return flow chamber 9 at each end of thevat, each containing a propeller, 6 so that each'propellen needs tomaintain a circulation for but one half of the vat, and the lowerportionof the i vat may be divided into two portions, one

under the influence of each propeller by a separator.

In order to direct the current of the dye ing solution where it flowsfrom the chamber 9 under the partition 7, and up into the chamber 8,directly upwardly, there is provided in the bottom of the vat below thechamber 8 suitable deflectors, as 12. These deflectors are intended toreceive the incoming liquid at a small angle to the direction of flow,and gradually to change the direction of flow to vertical as the flowcurrent enters the dyeing chamber with as little eddying as practicable.They are illustrated as practically constructed having an in clinedportion 13 to receive the incoming so lution and a straight portion 14to direct the same upwardly. These deflectors 12 will be spaced from thebottom of the vat to form a channel, as 15, to permit the distributionof the incoming current over the area of the bottom of the vat, andthose of the deflectors 12 which are nearest to the chamber 9 will bespacedfrom the bottom further than the others in order that thecross-sectional area of channel 15 may increase in size as the amount offluid to be carried increases.

In order to further assist in causing the fluid to be uniformlydistributed over the area of the vat, those deflectors which are nearerto the chamber 9 will be closer together than those which are furtheroff.

In order to cause the current of the dyeing solution to be deflectedthere may be provided upon the cover suitable deflectors, as 16, each ofwhich as shown is of atriangular cross-section whereby the bank ofdeflectors presents a saw tooth construction. I

Means are provided for rotating the propellers to cause the circulationof the dyeing fluid and in order to secure uniformity in the dyeingoperation, means are provided to reverse the direction of rotation ofthe propeller to secure a reversal in the direction of the circulationof the dyeing solution.

In the form of reversing operating mechanism shown, there is journaledabove each of the vats 2 on a suitable frame 19 which frame mayalso'support the track 2, a shaft 20' which may be connected by anyconvenient means as by a chain 21 to a drive shaft 22 which may beconveniently journale'd on the frame 19 parallel to the beam- 2. Anauxiliary shaft 23 adapted to be connected'by either one of two chainsof mechanism to the shaft 20 contains at its outer end a bevel gear 24meshing with a bevel gear '25 on a vertical shaft 26 which is adapted todrive through the medium of bevelgears 27 and 28 a horizontal shaft 29which is arranged'to drive the propellers 6 through the medium of bevelgear 30 and 31. By this construction the propellers will be rotated ineither a forward or reversed direction-as the shaft 23 is rotated eitherforward or reversed. V

Loosely journaled on the shaft 23 are two gears, and 33. The gear meshesdi rectly with the gear 34 keyed to the shaft 20 and the gear 33 mesheswith a gear which in turn meshes with a gear 36, also keyed to shaft20.By this construction the gears 32 and 33 will rotate in reversedirections. Means are provided for connecting the shaft 23 with eitherthe gear 32 or 33 comprising a pair of clutches 37 and 38 connected foralternative operation by a yoke 39, whereby the shaft 23 is rotated ineither a forward or reversed direction as the yoke 39 is thrown eitherto the left or right.

In order to secure the automatic shifting of the yoke 39 there ispivoted to a cross piece 40 on the frame work of the apparatus atwo-armed member or lever 41 having a pin 42 arranged to engage the lug43 on the yoke 39. The lever 41 is provided with two cam surfaces as 44and 45 in position to be engaged alternately by a tappet or pin 46adapted to be moved in an endless path, as by being rotated at slowspeed. For the .pur pose of rotating the pin 46 it is mounted on a gear47 journaled to the frame of the machine, meshing with a worm 48 on aworm shaft 49 also journaled on the frame; the shaft 49 is operated by asuitable train of gears from the shaft 20 which train of gearingpreferably includes a change speed devlce.

As illustrated, there is keyed to the shaft 20 a pinion '50 meshing witha gear 50 which may be loosely journaled on the shaft 23, and fastenedto the gear 50 is another gear 51 of different diameter. Splined to theone shaft 49 is a member 52 havingtwo gears as 53 and 54 adapted'tomesh-respectivay with the gears '50 and 51. The'gears 53 and 54 arespaced a different distance apart from the gears 50 and 51, and themember 52 is adapted toslideon the shaft 49 whereby the gear 54 may bebrought into mesh with the gear 51 or the ear 53 may be brought intomesh with the gear 50 as desired, whereby the shaft 49 may be drivenfrom the shaft'20 at two different speeds, at will. A. suitable lever 55may be pivoted to the frame work to permit the ready shifting of themember 52.

B the construction outlined, the rotation r end of a lever as 56 whichmay be pivoted eccentrically upon the gear 47 whereby it may be swunginto either of the two positions 57 or 58, in the first of which it issufficiently eccentric from the journal of the gear 47 to cotiperatewith the cams 44 and 45, and in the second of which it will notcotiperate with the cam. A suitable bracing member as 60 may be providedhaving openings at 57 and 58 into which the pin 46 may be thrust to holdthe arm 56 in either of its adjusted positions.

In order to retain the lever 41 in either of its extreme positions or ina central position, there may be provided a lever 61 pivoted to theframe work, having three notches as 62, 63 and 64, and there may beprovided on the lever 41 a pin 65 to cooperate with the notches. Aspring 66 may be provided to thrust the lever 61 upwardly to cause thenotches 62, 63 or 64 to engage the pin 65. Means may be rovided ifdesired for disconnecting the shaft 20 from the shaft 22 comprising aclutch 70 operated by a lever 71 controlled by a rod 72.

The support or rack 5 for the material to be dyed comprises two sidemembers 75, held in s aced parallel relation by cross member 6. Themembers 75 may be notched as at 77 to receive the ends of cross rods 78upon which the material to be dyed may be placed, and the notches 77will be so spaced as to afiord proper spacing of the material upon thedifierent rods. The rack 5 is conveniently supported from the cover 79of the vat 1 by means of rods 80 extending downwardly from the coverthrough the rack and locking pins 81 adapted to pass through openings 82in the end of the rod 80 below the rack 5, to support the same. Suitablechains as 82 may be provided to prevent the pins 81 being lost.

The traveling hoisting mechanism 3 for lifting the covers of the vatscarrying with them the racks 5 and .the material to be dyed, and fortransportingthem as desired, comprises a frame 83 having wheels 84adapted to run upon the roadway 2.

Journaled upon the frame 83 is a shaft 85, having at each end a sheave86 on which is adapted to be wound a flexible supporting element as achain 87 having at its outer end a hook 89 adapted to cooperate witheyes 90 upon the cover 79 of the dyeing vat. Also keyed to the shaft isa sheave 91 which is preferably of smaller diameter than the sheave 86in order to cause considerable motion of the chain'87 for a. smallrotation of the shaft85. A chain. 92 is adapted to be wound and unwoundfrom the sheave 91 and is attached at the .other end to pin 93eccentrically fastened upona gear 94 journaled on the frame 83. Suitablerotary guides 95 are provided to secure proper running of the chain onsheave 91 in spite of changes in the angularity in the pull of the pin93 on the chain. J ournaled also on the frame 83 is a worm shaft havinga worm 96 for engagement with the teeth of the gear 94 for rotating thesame. A shaft 97 journaled on the frame 83 carries at its outer end asprocket 98 which is driven by a power transmitting member as atraveling driving chain 99. J ournaled for rotation upon the shaft 97 isa gear 100 meshing with gear 101 upon the worm gear shaft 96, andsplined to the shaft 97 is a member 102 of a friction clutch adapted tocooperate with a mating member 103 connected to the gear 100 for drivingthe gear 100 from the shaft 97. A suitable handle 104 may be provided toshift the member 102 into and out of engagement with the member 103connecting and disconnecting the hoisting mechanism from the drive.

For the purpose of causing the traveling hoist to move along the track,one of the pairs of wheels 84 may be fast upon their shaft 109, andthere may be splined to this shaft a member 110 adapted to be moved tothe right or left by a suitable handle 111. Loosely journaled upon theshaft 109 are two members 112 and 113, one of which 112 may be driven bya chain 114 on a sleeve 117 loosely journaled upon the shaft 85 and theother member 113 may be driven from the sleeve 117 through the medium ofgears 118 and 119. The sleeve 117 may be driven by a chain from theshaft 97. By this construction the members 112 and 113 will be driven inopposite directions, and the wheels 84 may be moved forward by bringingthe member 110 into engagement with the members 112 or 113.

The driving chain 99 may be carried on suitable sprockets 125 and 126 onthe frame 19, at opposite ends of the track 2. The upper reach of thechain may be supported by suitable sprockets 127, and the lower reach ofthe chain may be allowed to run in a runway 128. The sprocket 98 is inengagement with the lower reach of the chain. In order to pick up thechain 99 out of the runway 128, and carry it over thesprocket 98 andkeep it in mesh therewith, guiding sheaves, as 129, may be provided.

A suitable source of power, as an electric motor 130 may be mounted onthe frame work for driving the driving shaft 22, and the driving chain99, and suitable speed re ducing connections may be introduced betweenthe motor and the shaft 22 and chain The motor 130 is connected to thechain 99 by the shaft 135 which may be connected to the motor shaft 136by bevel gearing and to the shaft 137 on which the sprocket 125 is rigidby a chain 138, passing over a sprocket 139- on the shaft 137 and asprocket 140 on the shaft 135. By properly proportioning the train ofgearing 131, and relative sizes of the sprocket wheels 133 and 134, and139 and 140, the speed of the shaft 22 and the driving chain 99 may beregulated.

In order to permit the driving of the propellers 6 without the necessityof using stuffing boxes, all that portion of the driving mechanism belowthe level of the dyeing solution, including the shaft 29 and the gears31, 27 and 28, is kept submerged in the dyeing solution and to this endis inclosed in a water-tight housing comprising,

.as shown, a horizontal tubular portion 150 surrounding, the shaft 29, avertical tubular portion 151 surrounding the shaft 26, a chamberedportion 152 surrounding the gears 30 and 31 at one end of the shaft 29and a second chambered portion 153 for inclosing the gears 27, 28 and 31at the other end of the shaft 29. The chambered portions 152 and 153 areconnected by water tight joints with the side of the vat and with thetubular portions 150 and 151. By this construction, the dyeing solutionmay be allowed to fill the housing for the driving mechanism withoutdanger of leakage of the dyeing solution out of the vat.

The operation of this device is as follows: I

The rack 5 for one of the vats may be supported on suitable supportsoutside the vats, underneath the track 2 in which position the rods 78each carrying its quantity of the material to be dyed may be placed inthe notches 77 of the side member 7 5. A cover 79 supported by thetraveling hoisting mechanism 3 through the medium of the chains 87 maynow be lowered over the rack- 5 until the rods 80 pass through the rackand the locking pins 82 are put in place to enable the cover to supportthe rack. The rack 5 carrying with it the material to be dyed may nowbelifted withthe cover 79 by shifting the handle 104 to cause the members102 and 103 to engage. When the rack and cover have been liftedsufliciently to allow them to be carried over the dyeing vat, the handle104 may be shifted back to cause the disengagement of the members 102and 103;

" Thereuponiby shifting the handle 111 to cause the member 110 to comein contact with the proper one of the members 112 or 113, the travelingseries will be caused to move upon the track 2 to carry the cover andframe to a position over the desired dyeing vat, whereupon its motionmay be stopped byshifting the lever 111 back to its former position. Thematerial to be dyed together with the rack and the cover-may then belowered into the dyeing vat by shifting the handle 104.

A shifting of the operating rod '7 2 causing the engagement of thegroove will now start the propellers 6 revolving through the medium ofthe operating mechanism, provided that the lever 41 is in either of itsextreme positions, right or left. peller 6 will rotate in alternatedirections, changing directions twice for each revolution of the gear47. The length of time that the propeller 6 will rotate in one directionbefore reversing may be changed by shifting the gear 55-to cause theshaft 49 to rotate the gear 47 at higher speed.

Should it be desired to cause the reversal of the direction of thepropellers 6 by hand instead of automatically, thepin 46 may be removedfrom the opening 57 inserted in the hole 58 whereupon the rotation ofthe gear 47 will have no effect upon the position of the lever 41. Thedirection of the propeller 6 may then be changed by shifting the member41 to right or left at will.

The rotation of the propellers 6 will cause the circulation of thedyeing fluid through the chamber 9 into the tanks 8 and the shape of thebaffle 12 having a vertical portion 14 will cause the dyeing solution toenter the chamber 8, at the time when its flow is upwardly toward thechamber 8, to be vertical and the form of the deflector 16 is such as tocause the deflection of the current and As many changes could be made inthe' above construction and many apparently widely different embodimentsof this invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof,it'is intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense. 7

It is also to be understoodthat the languageused in the following claimsis in tended to cover all of the generic and specific features of theinvention herein described,

The pro- 1 dyeing solution onto the top of the material and allstatements of the scope of the inven-' tion which, as a matter oflanguage, might be said to fallftherebetween. r

. Having described my 1nvention, what I. claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a dyeing machine or the like, incombinat on, a vat, means for causing a c1rculation of the liquor in thevat, means for automatically reversing the circulation of the liquor atpredetermined intervals and means for changing the interval betweenreversals.

2. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination a vat, meanscomprising power driven propellers, for causing a circulation of liquorin the vat, and means for automatically reversing the direction ofcirculation of the liquor at predetermined intervals comprising twomembers rotating in opposite directions and a member adapted to bebrought into operative engagement with either one of said oppositelyrotating members and means for connecting the last mentioned member tosaid propellers.

3. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, propellersfor causing the circulation of the liquor in the vat, means for drivingthe propellers and for alternately reversing the direction of motionthereof at predetermined intervals comprising two members rotating inopposite directions, a third member operatively connected to saidpropeller, adapted to be connected to the one or the other of saidoppositely rotating members, a lever having a cam surface thereon,connected to said third member, and a constantly rotating element havingmeans for engaging the cam to operate the lever to move the third memberinto operative connection with one of the oppositely rotating membersand means for causing the reversal of the lever to cause the connectionof said third member with the other of said oppositely rotating membersand means for operating said constantly rotating member. V

4. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, means forcausing a circulation of the liquor in the vat, and means situated abovethe stream of circulating liquid for directing the circulating liquordownwardly on top of the material in the vat. r

5. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, means forcausing a circulation of liquor in the vat, and means com= prising aseries of angular deflectors supported above the stream of circulatingliquor in the vat for directing the circulating liquor downwardly Onitopof the material.

6. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat having acover, means for causing a circulation of liquor in the vat, and means,comprising a series of triangular deflectors attached to the cover ofthe vat, for directing the circulating fluid downwardly on top of thematerial to be treated.

7. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, means forcausing a circulation of liquor in the vat, and means for directing theflow of the current vertically in the vat, comprising baffles having anincombination, a vathaving a dyeing chamber therein, means formaintaining a circulation of liquorin the dyeing chamber between the topand bottom thereof and horizontally above and beneath the dyeing chamberin the vat, and horizontally spaced baffles situated in the'horizontalcurrent at the upper part of the dyeing vat presenting an inclinedsurface for deflecting the circulating fluid to change its direction between the horizontal and the vertical cur rents.

10. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat having adyeing chamber therein, means for maintaining a'circu- 'lation ofliquorin' the dyeing chamber be tween the top and bottom thereof andhorizontally above and beneath the dyeing chamber in the vat, andhorizontally spaced baffles situated in the horizontalcurrent at theupper part of the dyeingvat comprising triangularly shaped members withthe apex of the triangle downwardly so as to present an inclined surfacefor deflecting the circulating fluid to change its direction between thehorizontal and the vertical currents.

11. In a dyeing machine or. the like, in combination, a vat, propellingmechanism for-causing circulation of the liquor in the vat, and meansfor driving the propelling mechanism and automatically reversing thedirection of motion thereof comprising a pair of clutch elements, meansadapted to drive said elements in opposite directions, a third clutchelement operatively connected to said propelling mechanism, and meansadapted to effect engagement between said third clutch elements andeither of the other two comprising a power driven tappet movable in anendless path and a member adapted to be moved by said tappet to effectsaid engagement.

12. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, propellingmechanism for causing circulation of the liquor in the vat, and meansfor driving the propelling mechanism and automatically reversing thedirection of motion thereof comprising a pair of clutch elements, meansadapted to drive said elements in opposite directions, a third lut helement operatively connected member.

: 13. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, propellingmechanism for causing circulation of the liquor in the vat, and meansfor driving the propelling mechanism and automatically reversing thedirection of motion thereof comprising a pair of clutch elements, meansadapted to drive said elements in opposite directions, a third clutchelement operatively connected to said propelling mechanism, and meansadapted to effect engagement between said third cl-utch element andeither of the other two comprising a power driven tappet movable in anendless path, a member adapted to be moved by said tappet to effect saidengagement, and means adapted to retain said member in the position towhich it is moved by said tappet.

14:. 'In a, dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat,propelling mechanism for causing circulation of the liquor in the vat,and means for driving the propelling mechanism and automaticallyreversin the direction of motion thereof comprising a pair of clutchelements, means adapted to drive said elements in opposite directions, athird clutch element operatively connected to said propelling mechanism,and means adapted to effect engagement between said third clutch elementand either of the other two comprising a pOWer driven tappet movable inan endless path, a member adapted to be moved by said tappet to effectsaid engagement, said tappet being adjustable into and out of positionto move said memher, and means adapted to yieldingly retain said memberin'position to be moved tions. 7

a 15. In a dyeing machine or the like, in combination, a vat, propellingmechanism for causing circulation of the liquorin the vat, and. meansfor driving the propelling mechanism and automatically reversing thedirection of motion thereof comprising a pair of clutch elements, meansadapted to drive said elements in opposite directions, a third clutchelement operatively connected to said propelling mechanism, and meansadapted to effect engagement between said third clutch element andeither of the other two comprising a power driven tappet movable in anendless path, a member adapted to be moved by said tappet to effect saidengagement, and hand-operated means adapted to change the speed ofmovement of said tappet.

16. In a dyeing machine, or the like, in

combination, a vat, propelling mechanism' for causing circulation of theliquor in the vat, and meansfor driving the propelling mechanism andautomatically reversing the direction of motion thereof comprising apair of clutch elements, means adapted to drive said elements inopposite directions, a third clutch element operatively connected tosaid propelling mechanism, and means adapted to effect engagementbetween said third clutch element and eitherlof the other two comprisinga power-driven tappet movable in an endless path, a two-armed leverbetween the arms of which said tappet moves and with each of which thetappet is adapted to cooperate, said lever being connected to effectsaid engagement on moves ment in one direction or the other from anintermediate position. r

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM J. GOING.

Gopies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G.

by said tappet in either of opposite direc

